Top 10: Small-town drive-ins worth their fare are Utah staple

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
At Reed's Drive Inn in Nephi, the patty melt with mushrooms alone is worth the drive. This MaiRick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Marisha Spencer dishes up ice cream at Reed's Drive Inn in Nephi.Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
At Reed's Drive Inn in Nephi, the patty melt with mushrooms alone is worth the drive. This MaiRick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
At Reed's Drive Inn in Nephi, the patty melt with mushrooms alone is worth the drive. This MaiRick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
At Reed's Drive Inn in Nephi, the patty melt with mushrooms alone is worth the drive. This MaiKim Raff | The Salt Lake Tribune
Great malts and the amazing half-pound Old-Fashioned Burger make Dairy Delight in Tooele a must sKim Raff | The Salt Lake Tribune
Great malts and the amazing half-pound Old-Fashioned Burger make Dairy Delight in Tooele a must sKim Raff | The Salt Lake Tribune
Waitress Fancy Fors delivers food to customers at Dairy Delight in Tooele.Kim Raff | The Salt Lake Tribune
Dawson, left, Ean and Jake Brown play at a pinball machine at the Dairy Delight in Tooele.Kim Raff | The Salt Lake Tribune
The Big One half-pound burger with cheese at the Dairy Delight in Tooele.Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
Across from Beaver High School in the center of town, Mel's Drive Inn is known for its burgeTom Wharton | The Salt Lake Tribune
Hand-lettered signs offer various treats at the venerable
Burger Bar in Roy.Tom Wharton | The Salt Lake Tribune
Lunch is a busy time at the Burger Bar in Roy.Tom Wharton | The Salt Lake Tribune
The lunch rush at the Burger Bar in Roy can start as early
as 11 a.m.Tom Wharton | The Salt Lake Tribune
Jessica Fowler, whose family has owned the Burger Bar in
Roy for three generations, stands i

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
At Reed's Drive Inn in Nephi, the patty melt with mushrooms alone is worth the drive. This Main Street favorite also serves a variety of other hamburgers and sandwiches. There are good French fries, tater tots and English chips, as well as both hard and soft ice cream and malts made-to-order.Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Marisha Spencer dishes up ice cream at Reed's Drive Inn in Nephi.Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
At Reed's Drive Inn in Nephi, the patty melt with mushrooms alone is worth the drive. This Main Street favorite also serves a variety of other hamburgers and sandwiches. There are good French fries, tater tots and English chips, as well as both hard and soft ice cream and malts made-to-order.Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
At Reed's Drive Inn in Nephi, the patty melt with mushrooms alone is worth the drive. This Main Street favorite also serves a variety of other hamburgers and sandwiches.Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
At Reed's Drive Inn in Nephi, the patty melt with mushrooms alone is worth the drive. This Main Street favorite also serves a variety of other hamburgers and sandwiches. There are good French fries, tater tots and English chips, as well as both hard and soft ice cream and malts made-to-order.Kim Raff | The Salt Lake Tribune
Great malts and the amazing half-pound Old-Fashioned Burger make Dairy Delight in Tooele a must stop.Kim Raff | The Salt Lake Tribune
Great malts and the amazing half-pound Old-Fashioned Burger make Dairy Delight in Tooele a must stop.Kim Raff | The Salt Lake Tribune
Waitress Fancy Fors delivers food to customers at Dairy Delight in Tooele.Kim Raff | The Salt Lake Tribune
Dawson, left, Ean and Jake Brown play at a pinball machine at the Dairy Delight in Tooele.Kim Raff | The Salt Lake Tribune
The Big One half-pound burger with cheese at the Dairy Delight in Tooele.Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
Across from Beaver High School in the center of town, Mel's Drive Inn is known for its burgers and hot dogs.Tom Wharton | The Salt Lake Tribune
Hand-lettered signs offer various treats at the venerable
Burger Bar in Roy.Tom Wharton | The Salt Lake Tribune
Lunch is a busy time at the Burger Bar in Roy.Tom Wharton | The Salt Lake Tribune
The lunch rush at the Burger Bar in Roy can start as early
as 11 a.m.Tom Wharton | The Salt Lake Tribune
Jessica Fowler, whose family has owned the Burger Bar in
Roy for three generations, stands in front of the iconic and popular
eating establishment.

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Next time you drive Utah's highways and byways  maybe on summer vacation  don't be in such a hurry. Just cruise past all those fast-food franchises that are built right off the exits and head into one of these small towns to experience local drive-in gems.

Nephi • Reed's Drive Inn

The patty melt with mushrooms alone is worth the drive, while this Main Street favorite also serves a variety of other hamburgers and sandwiches. There are good French fries, tater tots and English chips, as well as both hard and soft ice cream and malts made-to-order. 626 North Main Street Nephi; 435-623-1107

Tooele • Dairy Delight

Great malts and the amazing half-pound Old-Fashioned Burger make this a must stop. 46 W. 100 South, Tooele; 435-882-6400

Blanding • Patio Drive-in

This stalwart is known for its hamburger and Philly cheesesteak sandwiches. 95 N. Grayson Parkway, Blanding; 435-678-2177

Torrey • Slackers

Formerly Brink's Burgers, this little place is a good spot for a malt or hamburger after a hike in Capitol Reef. 165 E. Main, Torrey; 435-425-3710

Garden City • Hometown Drive Inn

A trip to Bear Lake isn't complete without stopping at this Garden City spot for a raspberry shake and a Big Bear burger. 105 N. Bear Lake Blvd., Garden City; 435-946-2727

Moab • Milt's Stop & Eat

Located near the entrance to the Slickrock Bicycle Trail, Milt's has been a favorite stop since 1954. It's known for its chili cheeseburgers and fresh-cut fries. 356 Mill Creek Road, Moab; 435-259-7424

Kamas • Uinta Drive Inn

Big portions and a fairly large menu have brought many Mirror Lake Highway visitors to this establishment. 235 Center St., Kamas; 435-783-4312

Beaver • Mel's Drive Inn

Across from Beaver High School in the center of town, this place is known for its burgers and hot dogs. 155 N. Main St., Beaver; 435-438-5600

P Know of a local drive-in that's worth a trip? Drop a note to food@sltrib.com with a description of menu specialty items that are worth attention, and our food writers will consider the place for possible future stories.